The Board of Directors of the Arkansas Baptist Foundation (ABF) held its first Quarterly Board Meeting of 2026 on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) building. This marked the formal beginning of ABF’s new board year. As a means of commissioning the board and officers into service, Wes George, senior pastor at First Baptist Church Rogers, opened the day with a guided time of prayer for board members, staff, and guests.
Bill Panneck, chair of the ABSC Executive Board, gave the opening devotional, emphasizing the importance of discipline in the Christian walk. Citing Titus 2:11–12, he reflected on how seemingly small acts of obedience shape long‑term spiritual growth.
Highlights of the board meeting included:
- ABF’s new 2026 Annual Report, noting distributions of $36,917,463 in 2025. This brings total distributions since ABF’s inception in 1949 to more than $668 million.
- Bobby Thomas and Wes George shared an institutional report on behalf of the International Mission Board (IMB) highlighting the recent Sending Celebration, hosted by FBC Rogers, where 41 new missionaries were commissioned and noting IMB’s strengthened global impact with 2,243 missionaries sent over the past five years and a strong applicant pipeline of more than 1,500 candidates.
- Church/pastor profile from Wes George, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Rogers, shared how ABF’s partnership has strengthened First Baptist Rogers through estate planning services, investment support, and collaboration with WatersEdge.
- Approval of 48 scholarship awards for the 2026-27 school year for students attending Ouachita Baptist University and Williams Baptist University as well as other universities or seminary.
- Continuation of rotating distribution to an Arkansas Baptist ministry partner in conjunction with the ABF annual board advance. This year’s distribution will be made to the Arkansas Baptist State Convention for Camp Paron.
- A distribution to the Arkansas Baptist Pastor’s Conference to partner and support Arkansas Baptist pastors.
- A distribution will be made to the Arkansas Baptist Children and Family Ministries for the continued funding of scholarships for ABSC pastors/staff and their spouses to attend marriage retreats and workshops through the Healthy Family Initiative.